「Ah, what a time to be bored. I still can’t see the rebels.」
The punitive force was marching along the road. All in all, there were about four thousand soldiers.
In addition to them, there was a transport force carrying their supplies in carriages behind them with about another two thousand soldiers guarding them.
Amidst them all, Bratta, the commander in chief of the punitive force, muttered in an annoyed voice.
He seemed bored as he looked at his surroundings from his warhorse.
「Anyway, why am I the commander in chief? I’m more suited to fighting on the front lines, so normally you should be the commander in chief, not me, right? You can calmly make decisions, unlike me.」
As he said, Bratta turned his gaze to another person riding a horse alongside him.
He was wearing simple leather armour and a cloak, but the leather armour wasn’t the type worn by ordinary adventurers or soldiers, it was closer to a half leather armour.
This was due to the lack of stamina of the person wearing the armour.
「It can’t be helped. As you can see, I’m not suited to fighting on the front lines. Those who fight on the front lines would definitely be dissatisfied if someone like me became the commander. They would hate to see someone without an ounce of bravery in charge of the force. Since I report directly to Prince Kabajid, they probably won’t say it out loud directly, but it will show. And, when fighting the rebel army, such a moment could lead to a fatal opening.」
Bratta clicked his tongue at what the other person, Sobble, had to say.
He understood that. That was the kind of person he was.
However, he was still unhappy at the fact that others would look down on his partner and reliable friend.
Although he rarely brought up the topic of their friendship.
(He’s still bad at hiding his feelings.)
Seeing Bratta’s state, Sobble gave a slight smile, contrary to his internal thoughts.
Although he was a blunt man, it was clear that Bratta matched well with his own attention to detail and they had worked together up until now.
In fact, Sobble believed that it was because their personalities were such polar opposites that they could get along without fighting.
「Now that I think about it, Rhodes didn’t come after all. It seemed like he wanted to come though.」
Sobble suddenly changed the topic.
Hearing that, Bratta also nodded.
「He wanted to come, but Pelfiel didn’t give permission. She said that with his current abilities, he had no chance of winning against Crimson.」
Bratta recalled the time he had mentioned to Rhodes that Crimson might show up.
Rhodes said he wanted to come right away, but Pelfiel, who was still in charge of his training, vetoed him, saying that he still lacked experienced.
「Training, huh? ……It seems like someone doesn’t like that sort of thing.」
Perhaps sensing something unpleasant from Sobble’s words, Bratta turned his gaze to the surroundings as he attempted to change the subject.
The punitive force stood out as it advanced along the road, whether they liked it or not.
That was only natural as the combined size of the force reached six thousand soldiers, including the supply train.
The people working in the fields along the road looked at the punitive force with anxious eyes.
If the punitive force continued to lose, the rebel army’s advanced wouldn’t stop. If that were to happen, it was highly likely this area would become a battlefield as well.
They had just seen another punitive force retreat a short time ago……or rather, flee in a complete rout. So it was only natural for them to be concerned.
To be honest, most of the farmers here didn’t care if the punitive force won or if the rebel army won.
Of course, there were those who supported one side over the other, but most of the farmers didn’t care as long as it didn’t turn their land into a battlefield.
In that sense, if the punitive force were to win, this area wouldn’t become a battlefield, so many of them unconsciously hoped for the punitive force’s victory.
……Although, all that said, they were still hesitant to support the punitive force considering the results of the last battle.
「I wonder if it will be okay……I hope they don’t lose and end up having to fight here.」
「That’s true. Their escape last time was a shock, so when I think abou it……」
「I don’t want this place to become a battlefield.」
「Sill, it’s a good thing that it’s not spring, sowing season, or harvest season. Considering what might have happened if they fought in the fields during summer……I think it’s lucky for us that it’s after harvest time.」
「I see. So……if you think about it……if the civil war drags on like this and carries over into next spring, it will still be the same in the end.」
「But even so, it should before spring……」
「Why did a civil war have to happen? I’d like them to take the fighting outside the country if possible.」
「It’s called a civil war because it’s happening inside the country.」
In the fields along the road, where the harvest had already finished, the farmers who were tilling the soil and spreading leaf mold in order to prepare for next year’s sowing spoke in hushed voices.
The soldiers couldn’t hear what they were saying, but their gazes spoke as much as their words.
Realising how the farmers viewed them, the soldiers couldn’t help but feel irritated.
The only reason they didn’t lash out at the farmers was largely because they were Kabajid’s subordinates.
The fact that they were part of the First Prince’s faction was a source of pride for the nobles participating in the punitive force and they didn’t want to do anything that would tarnish their pride. If they did, they would undoubted face severe punishment as well.
Still, they didn’t find it amusing and Bratta clicked his tongue as he sat on his warhorse.
「Tch, the last battle was intended to be a loss and means for Prince Shurus to get rid of some useless people. In the end, he achieved his goals, so it can be considered a victory for Prince Shurus, right?」
Bratta called out to Sobble, who was riding alongside him, but all he got in response was silence and a difficult expression.
「Hm? What’s wrong?」
「……No. I think it would be fair to say that Prince Shurus only achieved half his objectives in the last battle.」
「Half?」
「Yes. He achieved his objective in terms of confirming the rebel army’s strength. But in terms of disposing of the useless nobles, as you said, it can be considered a failure with so many of them becoming prisoners of war. Furthermore, Prince Shurus can’t make any major moves while he’s negotiating a ransom for those prisoners. Prince Shurus would otherwise have wanted his faction to control the punitivive force this time, but……」
Sobble’s gaze briefly fell upon the cavalry unit positioned near the rear of the punitive force.
Those were men sent by Shurus in the punitive force mostly comprised of soldiers from the First Prince’s faction.
Naturally, Sobble, who was in charge of organising the force this time, had wanted the whole force to come from the First Prince’s faction. However, Amare, Shurus’s adjutant, had contacted him and half-forcefully request that they include troops from the Second Prince’s faction……or to be precise, knights under Shurus’ direct command.
Sobble tried to refuse of course, saying that including members of the Second Prince’s faction in the punitive force would do more harm than good, but Amare seemed to have predicted his response. She had spoken to Kabajid before bringing up the matter with Sobble.
Sobble had no idea what his master was thinking when he decided to accept the troops from the Second Prince’s faction.
Curious, he asked Kabajid about it, but all he got in response was a meaningful smile.
Anyhow, since it was an order from his master, he couldn’t disobey it. As a result, there was a single unit belonging to the Second Prince’s faction in the punitive force.
「Regardless. Prince Shurus is unable to use the military power of nobles from his faction due to pending ransom negotiations. Furthermore, all but one of his knights, which were sent to monitor the first punitive force, were killed. Considering that the one who made it back was half dead, I can’t really call it a victory. It would be an exaggeration to even call it a drawn.」
「……Is that so? But they was successful in scouting out the rebel army’s military strenght, which was the main objective, right? So I think they achieved their minimum objective, don’t you think?」
Bratta seemed puzzled as he asked and Sobble shook his head in response.
「No, I don’t think so. it’s true that the last battle did reveal some of the rebels’ strength. But it only revealed part of it. Most importantly, we haven’t been able to confirm if Crimson is present or not, so we can only be wary of him.」
「……Him, is it?」
「Yeah. We’ve sent scouts to the rebel camp several times, but we still haven’t heard any sightings of Crimson. In fact, we’ve even lost contact with several scouts.」
Hearing that, Bratta sighed heavily, as if forgetting he himself was on a warhorse.
Soldiers who played the role of thieves in adventurer parties costed a lot of money to train. In other words, they were very expensive soldiers.
They didn’t stand out on the battlefield like knights or cavalry and were only assigned to behind the scenes tasks.
Naturally, there weren’t many people who were willing to become soldiers who specialised in scouting, so their salaries had to be high to maintain a level of quality.
Information played an important role in battle, sometimes determining life and death.
Bratta had worked with Sobble for a long time and knew about such things, which was why he was shocked to hear they had lost contact with their scouts.
「Moreover, many of the ones we lost contact with were excellent scouts. They probably saw something in the rebel camp that they shouldn’t have seen……」
「You mean Crimson?」
「It probably wasn’t all of them and I have no proof. But, if you think about it like that, it makes sense.」
「……Is it possible they have some kind of secret weapon other than Crimson? Theorem is good at using magic items in battle. Considering that, I think that’s more likely.」
「That’s a possibility. But, to be honest, I’m more afraid of fighting Crimson than a secret weapon. If I think of the worst case scenario, I can’t help it…… Right. In the end, I told the scouts to watch from afar just to make sure they don’t overreach.」
Sobble seemed depressed as he spoke, turning his eyes to the sky.
The sun shone brightly in the sky and the clouds seemed like they had been swept away by a broom. Sobble felt as if all his worries were insignificant and couldn’t help but sigh in frustration.
「Seriously……I guess my worries are insignificant compared to the sky.」
Sobble muttered out loud, but of course the sky had no answers for him.
Even Bratta didn’t know what to say to Sobble and turned his eyes to a nearby carriage.
The carriage wasn’t one for transporting supplies, but for carrying nobles from the First Prince’s faction.
Of course, unlike the previous punitive force, the passengers inside were highly capable nobles who were trusted by Kabajid.
Since they were joining a punitive force, most were second or third sons rather than the heads of families, but they were still more than capable.
They were promised that if they performed well enough in the suppression of the rebel army that they would be able to establish new noble families, so they were all full of motivation.
The subordinates that those nobles brought along were naturally capable people as well.
(If I lose despite leading such excellent people……I won’t be able to face Prince Kabajid.)
Thinking that as he looked at the carriage, Bratta also turned to look up into the autumn sky, thinking of the battle that would likely occur in a few days.
The moonlight poured down on the punitive force’s camp.
They had eaten a few hours ago and had also been permitted some alcohol to restore their strength. Most sounds had already died down only insects could be heard in the long autumn night.
Their noises kept the guards awake as they camped beside the road.
Most of the others were already asleep and the soldiers who had been assigned the unrewarding task of standing guard were trying to ease their boredom with the sounds of the insects as they lamented their own misfortune.
However, concentrating on the sounds of the insects only made it more difficult to resist the urge for sleep.
After marching all day and having a hearty meal with drinks just a few hours ago, serving nightwatch as insects sang their lullabies made it difficult to resist their greatest enemy, sleep.
The fact that they were only a day’s distance from the Imperial Capital, an area under their sphere of influence, was another factor that made them feel even sleepier.
WHile the guards were fighting their lonely battle, Bratta was looking at a map in a tent with Sobble.
The map showed a detailed topography of the aread leading up to the Obrisin County and had been lent to Sobble by Kabajid.
For that reason alone, it needed to be handled with care and, until recently, even during strategy meetings with the leaders of the punitive force, it hadn’t been brought out.
「Considering our marching speed, we’ll be fighting the rebel army the day after tomorrow.」
「……I heard it took five days the previous time?」
「That’s because those nobles marched as they pleased. That must have had an effect.」
Bratta agreed with Sobbles words.
For those arrogant nobles, their extravagant marching speed was more of a sightseeing trip to them.
Just as he was thinking about that……
「FIREEEEEEEEEE-!」
A shout echoed through the camp as Bratta noticed a bright red glow coming from outside the camp.